Canon ELPH 150 IS has a
20.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4+ processor. On the other hand, Nikon S4000 has a
12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Expeed C2 processor.
Canon ELPH 150 IS's sensor provides 8MP more than Nikon S4000's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely.
On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.
Below you can see the ELPH 150 IS and S4000 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon S4000 Cameras
Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon S4000 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Nikon S4000 has 65% larger pixel area (2.34µm2 vs 1.41µm2) compared to Canon ELPH 150 IS, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.